SALEM COMMUNITY HOSPITAL....2010 saw technical advancements at SCH

January 2, 2011

"Salem Community Hospital and our affiliated medical staff members are committed to offering cutting edge diagnostic and treatment tools that can help our physicians and patients achieve high-quality outcomes," said Anita Hackstedde, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs. "During the past year, the hospital has been pleased to provide the latest in advanced technology and new procedures to area residents."

New CT Scanner Faster Than A Beating Heart

At more than twice the speed and resolution of any other CT currently available, Salem Community Hospital is the first hospital between Cleveland and Pittsburgh to acquire a dual 128-slice CT scanner, the fastest available. This technology produces highly detailed, three-dimensional pictures of the body's internal structures and enables the differentiation of bone and tissue with great precision and clarity.

The CT technology uses two X-ray tubes and two detectors that spin 3-times per second, taking 128 simultaneous images in a sixth of a second. This speed is fast enough to image the beating heart in one-fourth of a second and produce 3-D images that are lifelike.

According to Chief of Radiology, Peter L. Apicella, M.D., who was quoted in the December 2010-January 2011 MD News magazine, "Our new CT brings the best technology to virtually any patient, regardless of condition, so we can diagnose injuries and illnesses in their earliest stages. It also requires less radiographic contrast and a lower radiation dose-- up to one-third less than the 64-slice CT scanners which most of the other area hospitals have-- so it's safer."

This fall, 3-D cardiac CT was introduced at SCH to produce images of the coronary arteries, the heart muscle and its function with precise detail, at the lowest radiation dose possible. Other advanced CT capabilities provided at SCH include dual-energy 3-D urograms to see the kidneys with the highest detail and show kidney stone composition.

Gallstones Treated with Spyglass Technology

The Gastroenterology Center of Salem, a service of Salem Community Hospital, is one of only 300 facilities nationwide to use Spyglass technology to diagnose and treat patients with liver, gallbladder and bile duct conditions, such as gallstones, suspicious lesions and other conditions of the biliary system.

Local gastroenterologist William Kolozsi, M.D., has been specially trained on this Spyglass technology, which uses a small flexible tube, called an endoscope, combined with a tiny SpyGlass camera and fiber optic probe at the end.

The camera is not much bigger than the thickness of a human hair, and can be steered in four directions through a special catheter. A fiber optic probe attaches to the camera head and is designed to allow Dr. Kolozsi to access and inspect all four quadrants of the treatment area.

The new technology is able to enter tiny areas, such as bile ducts, where larger scopes can't go, and as a result, achieve a more accurate diagnosis for patients. If needed, a special enhancement called Spybite, can take samples of suspicious tissue for evaluation, using miniature forceps. It also has the ability to insert a small probe against the gallstone to break it up with shock waves, similar to the process for removing kidney stones.

The patient benefits of this advanced technology are that it provides a more precise image, which in turn yields a more accurate diagnosis and more successful treatment outcome for patients. In addition, a biopsy can also be taken during an examination, eliminating the need for additional invasive procedures and prolonged recovery times.

More information about Spyglass technology can be obtained by calling the Gastroenterology Center of Salem at 330-337-8709.

Blocked Arteries Opened with Crosser Catheter

Cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Lawrence Schmetterer, M.D., FACS, performs an advanced procedure at The Surgery Center at Salem Community Hospital for people suffering from blockages of their leg arteries. The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis without the need for an incision or general anesthesia

Dr. Schmetterer uses a special device, known as the Crosser Catheter, to help restore the flow of blood to vessels that have been closed, such as in people suffering from peripheral artery disease and those with extreme leg pain.

The Crosser Catheter is used to provide high-frequency vibrations that safely create a new channel through previously blocked blood vessels for stent or balloon angioplasty placement.

This procedure eliminates the need for more invasive vascular surgery. More information about the Crosser Catheter can be obtained by calling Dr. Schmetterer's office at 330-743-3604.

Balloon Sinuplasty Treatment for Sinus Sufferers

Otolaryngologist Wayland Wong, M.D., of Salem Ear, Nose and Throat, is one of the first surgeons in the area to offer balloon sinuplasty as an advanced procedure for area residents suffering from chronic sinusitis.

Balloon sinuplasty is performed by using minimally invasive sinus balloon catheters to position a balloon into the blocked sinus passageway.

The balloon is then inflated to gently restructure and open the sinus passageway, which facilitates normal sinus drainage. Because this is a non-invasive procedure, there is no packing required.

In many cases this procedure can be done without removing any tissue or bone, which means quicker recovery times and less discomfort post-procedure. In many cases, patients may return to work in three days.

More information about balloon sinuplasty can be obtained by calling Salem Ear, Nose and Throat at 330- 337-4900.